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Mistakes of the Rich Farmer: The Sin of Covetousness

Explore the cautionary tale from Luke 12:13-21, warning against covetousness and selfishness leading to spiritual emptiness. Learn the importance of stewardship, generosity, and acknowledging God's blessings in managing wealth.

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Mistakes of the Rich Farmer: The Sin of Covetousness

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  1. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer Luke 12:13-21 (The Sin of Covetousness)

  2. Mistakes of theRichFarmer • Luke 12:15, “Takeheed and beware of covetousness, forone’slifedoesnotconsist of theabundance of thethings he possesses.” • Millions – includingmanychurchmembers -- neverlearnthistruth.

  3. Mistakes of theRichFarmer • Introduction: • The occasion – v. 13, 14, “divide theinheritancewith me.” • Jewishrabbisacted as judges of such. • Jesus didn’tgetinvolvedwithsuch, Jn. 18:36, “my kingdomisnot of thisworld”

  4. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • V. 15, Warning: Be careful, beware of covetousness. Like flashing red light! • There’s a big difference between “live” and “have possessions.” • Do we understand this?

  5. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • Many are verysmallwithriches. Others are verygreatwithoutriches. • Many are determinedto “live” the “American Dream”! • Butbeware of covetousnessbecauseitspoilsthedream.

  6. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • Notcondemnedforbeingrich. Abraham wasveryrich. So were Job, others • GodprospersHispeople. Deut. 8:7-10, “goodland, youwilllacknothing.” • “thenyoushallblessthe Lord.” • “Honor the Lord withyourpossessions.” Prov. 3:9.

  7. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • Notaccused of dishonesty. • Didn’tdefraudanyonethatweknow of. • Certainlynotlazy. Workedwithdiligence. • Probablyemployedmanypeople. • Didnotcovetwhatothershad.

  8. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • He hadtobeanintelligentman in ordertobesuccessful. • But he wasignorant of manyimportantthings. • Many times theproblemisnot “ignorant,” but “ignore”.

  9. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • But he knewnothing of “generosity.” • He knewnothing of “responsibility”towardothers. • Eph. 4:28, Work “that he mayhavesomethingtogivetohimwho has need.” • Do wekeepthis in mind as wework?

  10. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • The more the Lord multipliedHisblessingsonhim, the more hiscovetousness (selfishness) grew. • Are weguilty? Do WE knowabout “generosity” and “responsibility”? • What do we do withourprosperity? • Raise in salary? Extra moneywemake?

  11. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • So what were the mistakes of this rich farmer?

  12. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • 1. V. 17, “He thoughtwithinhimself” • Instead of consultingwithGodabouthisfinances. Howaboutyou and me? • The daywill come whenGodwillsay, “Giveanaccount of yourstewardship” Lk. 16:2.

  13. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • 2. V. 17, “I have no roomtostore my crops.” • BUT he didhave “where” tostorethem –theworldis full of needypeople. • Titus 3:14, “And letourpeople also learntomaintaingoodworkstomeeturgentneedsthattheymaynotbeunfruitful.”

  14. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • 3. V. 17-19, He wasblindtothesource of hisblessings – says “I”, “mine” repeatedly, doesnotgivethankstoGod. • Deut. 8:18, “And youshallremember… itistheLordwhogivesyoupowertogetwealth.” • Repeat: “Honor the Lord withyourpossessions.” Prov. 3:9.

  15. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • Ifwe do notrecognizeGod as thesource of blessings, wewillbeliketherichfarmer – wewon’teventhankHim! • And wecertainlywillnot use ourpossessionsaccordingtoHiswill. • Wewillthinkonly of our “wants.”

  16. Mistakes of theRichFarmer • ManypeopleleaveGodcompletelyout of thepicture. • Theysay, “I worked, I madeit, it’s mine, and I’mgoingtospendit as I please.” • Thismeansnotlookingbeyondone’sownselfishinterests. • Thisiscovetousness (idolatry, Col. 3:5)

  17. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • Thisispreciselytheopposite of Luke 9:23, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” • Matt. 6:19, “Do not lay up foryourselvestreasuresonearth … but in heaven …” • Matt. 25:35, “I washungry … naked …” • Do youthink Jesus is NOT hungry, nakedtoday? Lift up youreyes, look around.

  18. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • 4. He didnot look beyondthisworld. Dideverythingonthebasis of thislife in thisworld. Millions do thesame. • Col. 3:1, “IfthenyouwereraisedwithChrist, seekthosethingswhich are above, whereChristis, sitting at therighthand of God. • Set yourmindonthingsabove, notonthings of theearth.”

  19. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • 5. V. 18, “I will do this” – made a decision in favor of himself, withouttakingintoaccounttheneed of others. • I willkeep and use my moneyformyself. • “Afterall, youcan’thelpeveryone.” • “Letthemtakecare of themselves.”

  20. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • All he thought of waslarger barns, in ordertohave more forhimself. • Store (keep) instead of giving, helping, distributing. • 1 Tim. 6:17, 18, Do not “trust in uncertainrichesbut in the living God… do good, berich in goodworks, readytogive, willingto share …”

  21. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • 6. He livedonlyfortheoutwardman (notfortheinwardman) • v. 19, “take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." Satisfy the outward man. • 2 Cor. 4:16-18, “we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen … eternal.”

  22. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • 7. He wasboastfulabouthowlong he wouldlive. “You have many goods laid up for many years.” • Prov. 27:1, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” • James 4:13-15, “What is your life … a vapor”

  23. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • Noticethecontrastbetween “manyyears” and “thisnight.” • Ps. 39:4-6, “that I may know how frail I am.” • Psalm 103:15, 16, “As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone …”

  24. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • He thoughtthat he wastheowner of hiscrops and barns. • He eventhoughtthat he wastheowner of time. • He thought he had control overboth. • Eccl. 8:8, “No one has poweroverthespirittoretainthespirit, and no one has power in theday of death.”

  25. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • 8. He said “my soul” butthe Lord tookit. • Ecles. 12:7, “Thenthedustwillreturntotheearth as itwas, and thespiritwillreturntoGodwhogaveit.” • He said “my goods” but he lostall of them. Ecles. 2:18, “I mustleaveittothemanwhowill come after me.”

  26. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • 9. He thought (and theworldthought) that he was a successfulman. • That he waswise, thrifty. • ButGodsays: “Youfool.” • Because he wasrich? NO. • Because he wasguilty of covetousness (selfishness) “whichisidolatry” (Col. 3:5)

  27. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • Conclusion: • He said “Soul … bemerry.” • Butpeoplewho do notserveGodwiththeirpossessions are takento a worldwherethereisnopleasure. • Luke 16:24, “I am tormented in thisflame.”

  28. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer • The lessonforus: "So ishe wholays up treasureforhimself, and isnotrichtowardGod.” • Luke 16:9, makefriendsforyourselvesbymeans of richesthatwhentheyfail, theymayreceiveyouintoaneverlasting home.

  29. Mistakes of the Rich Farmer

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